Grateful Dead's BEAR...

[ghillie]

I don't know if there are any old Deadheads on this board....but I thought I would share the news that I just received from a friend who is running around with the Further tour....

Owsley  "Bear"  Stanley was killed in a car wreck in Australia today 3/11...

I bet him, Jerry, Brent, PigPen and Keith are jammin away up there....with Bill Graham giving out the miracle tickets...

R.I.P.  My Brother BEAR....

Gonna beat on the Djembe when I get home from work tonight....

[spaightlabs]

Another with a long strange trip. 

[paboxcall]

Hey now, that's terrible to hear.

Alice D. Millionaire, RIP.   

[BowBendr]

That's sad news to hear......

[theroaddog]

Like a steam locomotive
rolling down the track
He's gone
He's gone
and nothing's gonna bring him back

hate to hear he went out like that

[ghillie]

Sitting here listening to an EARLY 66' soundboard from Internet Acrhive...
sounds like it was recorded yesterday...

Grateful Dead Live at Avalon Ballroom on 1966-05-19 - Grateful Dead
Set 1 Beat It On Down The Line, Standing On The Corner, Mindbender, It Hurts Me Too, Viola Lee Blues, I Know You Rider, It's A Sin, Sick And Tired, Cream Puff War Set 2 Sittin' On Top Of The World, Minglewood Blues, Cold Rain And Snow, Come Back Baby, Silver Threads And Golden Needles, It's All Over Now Baby Blue, Good Lovin' , You Don't Have To Ask Straight Theater benefit - Other artist(s): The Wildflower, The Outfit


Man Bear was the ....  he was a engineering genius when it came to sound...especially his concept of point-source sound reinforcement and his creation of the "Wall of Sound"..


From Phil:

A Beautiful Mind

I received a text in the middle of last night that Bear Stanley has died in a car accident in Australia. Bear, for me, was a true kindred spirit; when we first met, it was as if I had met a long-lost brother from another lifetime. I am heartbroken and devastated at his passing.

He was a friend, a brother, an inspiration, and our patron at the very beginning of our creative lives. We owe him more than what can be counted or added up- his was a mind that refused to accept limits, and he reinforced in us that striving for the infinite, the refusal to accept the status quo, that has informed so much of our work.

He never gave up his quest for pushing the limits of whatever he was working on. We had just been discussing his concept of point-source sound reinforcement in relation to a new project of mine, and his vision incorporated the latest developments in technology and perceptual research.

My heart goes out to his family, for whom he had such love and pride- his wife Sheilah, his children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren- who have lost their patriarch.

A mind like Bear's appears very rarely, and it's been my privilege and honor to have known and loved two such minds- Jerry and Bear. I always laugh when I think about what Jerry once said about Bear: There's nothing wrong with Bear that several billion fewer brain cells wouldn't fix.

I am eternally grateful for all of the gifts that Bear brought to the scene and to the music.
Fare you well; I love you more than words can tell.

- Phil


Owsley "Bear" Stanley - 1935-2011
I met Owsley at the age of eighteen. I had just left home, having run off with a Rock&Roll band. Bear, as we knew him, was one of my all-time biggest influences. Always, when I think of him, I think of the endless stuff he taught me or somehow made me realize, all stuff that I've been able to use to the benefit of countless people who probably don't know much about him or how deeply he influenced me and the rest of the band. Most important was the approach he taught me and us: Always be open and engaging - always critical and questioning, but not negatively so much as playfully. He taught me to take myself and my interests out of the picture and work with the subject under consideration so that the best deductions or conclusions are made. I guess this means working from the point of view of the higher self, though that term never came up; it was always just assumed...

-Bob Weir

.

There aint nothin like the good ol Grateful Dead!!!

[anthonyjhallen]

Didnt he play ryythem type instruments?

[ghillie]

He was their soundman...made all of those wonderful recordings...
I remember back in 82' when I was seeing a show in Denver at Red Rocks...well I forgot my patch cable back in Iowa and Bear LET ME plug into the main soundboard!!!  Man was I psyched...from that point on Bear was a huge fan of mine...really cool guy...in fact on several occasions he would let us plug into the board to get the BEST recording possible...one cable to the the Sony four track device and about 20 or so devices then plugged into mine...gotta pass the miracle on to others...those were the times...

I was homeless for about 10 years...and this community was the ONLY community where I was accepted...unconditionally...fed me when I was hungry...warmed me when I was cold...well you get the picture

[TrackeySauresRex]

RIP Bear  Thanks for helping make unbelievable music! They were truly a band beyond description. Rest in peace and Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock you're soul.....
God Bless
Johnny

[Jayhawkeye]

very sad...  i'm glad there's a few of us deadheads on the OG.  I got to know merl saunders very well and he hooked me up with jerry in the early 1990s.  jerry was always super cool to us.  he gave us tickets for the last shows in chicago & he even came over to out hotel to hangout before the last show. 

Wreaking Crew for Life...

[anthonyjhallen]

I never really got into the  Greatful Dead too much.  I do seriously enjoy all of the bluegrass/newgrass/dawg or whatever you want to call it, that Jerry Garcia and David Grisman did later on.

[shad309]

I went to a concert in the early 90's in St Louis with some friends (kinda hazy...) Never made it past the parking lot, I think. From what I remember it was a good time 

Love me some Dead! I make the kiddos listen- one day they will appreciate it!

[spaightlabs]

Amazing memories you have Ghillie!!